After all these years as a Fodorite, I am aware that advice is subjective. I'm asking anyway, because many times the answers are written in such a way that I see myself as having the same interests and values. So here goes:
We have a big anniversary coming up and want a special trip. We were in Budapest 2 summers ago for 4 days and feel like we barely scratched the surface, so anything we come up with is going to include it. We looked at a River Cruise beginning in Budapest and going thru Serbia, Bulgaria & Romania. The itinerary looks fascinating, but I'm afraid it will be like going on a bus tour, but on a boat! Then I thought maybe a week in Budapest and a week in Istanbul. 2 places I've been to, but not long enough and there is so much that I didn't get to see & explore. Last option is 1 week in Budapest and another week driving around the small villages & towns in Hungary and whatever borders to the east. Any opinions are welcome.

given that you liked budapest so much, although I've never done any of the options you give [apart from Budapest] it's the last one I'd go for.

co-incidentally, the following cropped up on another thread:

http://www.barlangfurdo.hu/

if you go to the hungarian bit of the web-site, there are some hotel details too. #

there have also been some threads about travel in Hungary too, especially the wine areas.

We found Pecs interesting. Read up on it and see if it appeals to you.

Pecs is the Cultural Capital along with Essen, Germany and Istanbul, Turkey this year so there are tons of activities going on...there was a write up in the CHicago Tribune yesterday as an fyi.

Maybe 5 days in Budapest and 2 days seeing the countryside, including Pecs. Then 5 days in Istanbul with 2 days to do another side trip there! The more I think about it, the farther the River Cruise moves from the top of the wish list! Thanks for your suggestions.

We liked Eger very much.

We biked from Budapest to Tokaj through the mountains. Lovely towns like Eger (great) and Miscolc (a bit odd but the spa town next door is great as Ann and Greg mentions) (you can tell we just have to talk about hungary at the moment.

Anyway along the Eastern motorway are some lovely towns well worth a drive. Tokaj is something of a target for me as the wine is so good. Watch out the place is taken over by conferences and there is really only a few good hotels and some poor B&Bs

We stayed in Eger in the town square and joined in the clebration of EU memebership. Name forgotten but right at the tip but before you get to the narrow mineret

Just bought a book on Hungary! Thanks for the suggestions. write me all you like about what your trip was like. Hungary, Hungary & more Hungary info is what I'm looking for!